One of the most fascinating things I deal with as a middle man between the Dolphins and their fans is how sometimes the team and the folks rooting for that team share a common goal and common thinking. And sometimes they really do not.
Sometimes the disconnect in the team's agenda and the fans' agenda is startling.
And I perceive there is some disconnect here.
Correct me if I am wrong, but judging from some of your comments on this blog and the comments of fans I talk to on the radio or meet on the street, some fans are walking around with a happy-to-be-here attitude. It is as if some of you have believe 2008 was a wonderful foundation-building year and the reconstruction project won't be complete for another year or two so whatever happens this season is fine with you.
Some of you see a fine season in your rear view mirror and a championship on the horizon and whatever happens in between is perfectly acceptable. You see 2009 as another year of building, not of winning or competing for a championship.
That, frankly, is a loser's mentality.
And these Dolphins, being quite far removed from being losers, are not thinking that way at all.
When coach Tony Sparano gathered his players recently, he congratulated them on a great 2008 season. He told them how wonderful it was to turn things around and "change the culture" of losing he encountered when he took over the team.
But, he reminded the players, the job is not complete so he wants, hopes, expects, this team to strive to complete the job. He didn't say, this is a transition team. He didn't say, we'll complete the job in a year or two.
Sparano, Jeff Ireland, Bill Parcells and every player on the Dolphins want to win the Super Bowl this coming season. Owner Stephen Ross wants to host his team in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. No one is thinking about championships in 2010. This is not the NBA. They are not thinking about completing a four- or five-year program in 2010 or 2011.
2009 is the focus.
Winning Super Bowl XLIV in Miami is the goal. Today is the time, not tomorrow ... and definitely not yesterday. The Dolphins aren't thinking about a five-year plan any more than they are resting on what happened last year.
“We are excited about what happened in the offseason with all the new faces that we have in free agency and with the draft," quarterback Chad Pennington said. "We are excited to bring all of these guys in and that is why every year is different. What we did in 2008 has no bearing in 2009. We have a big challenge ahead of us -- to learn each other and to build team chemistry and to work together.”
When I talk to Dolphins players or people within the organization, they never say we're in the second year of a plan that will take X-number of years. All the players know they might not be around next year -- or next game with this bunch -- so now is the most important time.
Folks atop the organization such as Sparano and Ireland recognize they must look out into the future as they build the team. But they have one eye on that future and the other eye on today.
That's why the team signed Jason Taylor back.
That's the reason the team signed Chad Pennington last year.
That's the reason if the right veteran that can upgrade the team now comes available at some point before the October trading deadline, the Dolphins will consider making the move.
One more thing that has become plainly clear to me in talking about this team with sources, coaches and personnel people. They all recognize there is no promise of success tomorrow.
They talk about a looming "quarterback transition" and how there can be serious bumps on that road to Chad Henne. They talk about losing four or five valuable free agents after this season and having to replace those known players with God knows who. They talk of there being no ironclad certainty in the direction Ross is pointing the organization. They talk of not knowing whether Parcells will be with the team next year or the year after.
They talk of doing everything in their power to make the 2009 Dolphins the best they can be so that the 2009 season is better than 2008.
And they leave the conversation about fanciful 2010 or '11 championships to some fans who don't understand what's most important.
j. you brainless jackass. Rest assured , i'm not nj phin fan. Try again you f'n social parasite !
Posted by: george | May 22, 2009 at 02:47 PM
Shut up George, did you not listen to me. Dont make me slap you.
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 02:52 PM
curious George you little monkey, you make me laugh. Go back to work at the grocery store you twerp.
Posted by: j | May 22, 2009 at 02:54 PM
you guys are so funny, i wish i could keep it w/ you .
I AM CONFUSES, who is who ?
Posted by: C | May 22, 2009 at 03:19 PM
J. get a job , period you f'n worthless jackass.
Posted by: george | May 22, 2009 at 03:23 PM
george,get a job,period you f'n worthless donkey
Posted by: carmen | May 22, 2009 at 03:26 PM
The George guy is someone else becuase he used the same phrase when he called the Menace a "f'n social parasite !" Better watch out or the Menace will teach you to show him respect.
Posted by: Jaskin | May 22, 2009 at 03:27 PM
George and J,
I am warning the both of you to stop fighting. I swear I will hurt you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 03:29 PM
and the gopats doesn't speak like that mr fake gopats, you sound like george the donkey
Posted by: j | May 22, 2009 at 03:42 PM
j loves gopats, is afraid of his azzzzzzzz
Posted by: Mr. Bunglito | May 22, 2009 at 03:51 PM
i know now who is who,
J is nj phin
george is rex
gopats is marc, cuban best friend
jaksin is d 4 life
donkey is gorge
Posted by: sara lee | May 22, 2009 at 03:53 PM
i forgot,yeeeesssssss mr Bunglito is my favorite AZ in da house
Posted by: sara lee | May 22, 2009 at 03:56 PM
and you're still a f'n social parasite.
Posted by: george | May 22, 2009 at 03:58 PM
pipes upon you,
with rust above
you
cold and hot
what would you do
nj phin loves,
bunglito azzz
Posted by: sara lee | May 22, 2009 at 04:01 PM
I see the cuban menace is still wasting a beautiful me by posting more worthless crap including talking to himself.
Posted by: Friday | May 22, 2009 at 05:06 PM
george is very mean, he doesn't love any one .why can't he learn to speak nicely like the cuban menace .
Posted by: J | May 22, 2009 at 05:09 PM
FRIDAY the 13 , worst movie ever
Posted by: J | May 22, 2009 at 05:12 PM
George is the cross dressing ,pink pants wearing hormorphidite m@@c.
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Whats Up Hermy?
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 05:49 PM
Your Mom wags her tail every time i say marc, isnt that sweet?
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 05:52 PM
When we were asked how many games the Dolphins would win in 2009, I wrote that they would win between 10 to 12 games. I have watched what BP&Co have done in the offseason and during the draft, and have seen nothing to change my opinion. They will be a better team than last year and will be able to hold their own with any team in the league. Go Dolphins!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: JBCFINFAN | May 22, 2009 at 06:01 PM
then how come we didnt sign T.O.
Posted by: JP | May 22, 2009 at 06:03 PM
J---how much disability $$ do you get per month?
Posted by: Bung Hole Lido | May 22, 2009 at 06:15 PM
the coach staff, the tuna , and the atmosphere they create is the main reason the fins will do better as a team, dolphins will be a great team this season cause tuna and CO is on track.
p.s...all this fighting between fan on this blog remind me of nick satan regime of baby fighting and low IQ some fin fans are known for,i am sorry to say
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Gopats, How hot is mrs. tom brady ?
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 06:39 PM
cuban, you know how she's, she's the apple of any able body's eyes.
i never seen so many victoria secret magazines in my life .
Cuban, why some people assume every time some disagree with them , he must be the cuban menace and they start using their high level of english.
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 06:45 PM
?
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 06:48 PM
cuban, every time NJ PHIN FAN gets in fight , he assume that he's fighting w/ you.
mrs. Brady....i hear that pats will hand the season ticket holders an fast hand device like but only when she's at the game.
p.s...i hope you understand this one
Posted by: G | May 22, 2009 at 06:57 PM
gopats = mr bunglito
Posted by: C | May 22, 2009 at 07:01 PM
G, Lol, I do get it and if i ever make it to new eng. i hope to get one from Gissell.
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 07:04 PM
CUBAN,they just showed vick going to his home or mansion ,the home looks great,vick in fact very lucky man cause all these dogs who got demolished can't SUE him so he kept all his money and soon Tuna will get him only when HENNE suck .
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Mrs. brady is way to skinny. She looks sick to me.
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Rather have a thicker girl with a nice a==.
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 07:15 PM
afc east, she's not skinny, you just say that cause your background isn't sofesticated enough to understand or to imagine .
cuban, i wish marc your friend was fighting with vick's pit bulls
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 07:18 PM
A girl that a== is like a rocking chair
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 07:20 PM
gopats you are such a wuss kissing up to the Menace.
Posted by: F | May 22, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Go GOpats.You have a little wonka so that looks good to you a real man or a BIG man need that Butt that make waves when you slap it. That's something you don't know about.
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 07:24 PM
Gopats: You're the type of guy that say's OH baby I just want to make love to you. I'm the a== slaping Hair puller S==t talker. I got a big "EGO"
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 07:29 PM
That is what gopats says to his guy
Posted by: K | May 22, 2009 at 07:32 PM
afc east, as i said before ,your background dictat to you how to look at love .it looks like when you think of making love your approach is the same as making Lasagna .3 facts ,
1-well rich people they marry each other with sex way down on the list and they have it when they feel like it
2-in your case when you make love , it's like having all you can eat buffet at 11.95 plus tax
3-big farts are annoying to say the least
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 07:39 PM
big ass farts
Posted by: G | May 22, 2009 at 07:42 PM
Afc, What do you think about jennifer lopez, now there's a @ss that you could put a bottle of patron and a stoogie on, with a ash tray and a shot glass to boot.
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Afc, What do you think about jennifer lopez, now there's a @ss that you could put a bottle of patron and a stoogie on, with a ash tray and a shot glass to boot.
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 07:53 PM
What is a Patriots fan doing on a Fins blog? Pretty pathetic when Patriots fans are so bored of their team's inactivity that they have to look at their rival's website. I like the receiver the Patriots picked out of UNC. He won't play a down this year because he flunked a drug test at the combine knowing he was going to be tested. How dumb can you get? Then again, it doesn't take brains to be a Patriot ... only a beer belly and a few dead brain cells.
Posted by: Go Fins | May 22, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Afc, What do you think about jennifer lopez, now there's a @ss that you could put a bottle of patron and a stoogie on, with a ash tray and a shot glass to boot.
Posted by: cuban menace | May 22, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Gopats You sound dumb. So now you're saying rich people have a certain way of sex. sounds like you're Tom Brady.The Father of the BRADY BUNCH. Your problem Gopats is you don't have swagger. I can help you....................... 1st..Women don't like weak guys and you sound soft.I'll get into th rest later going out.
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 07:54 PM
Go Fins,
Gopats = Mando/co-worker/friend
Posted by: Mantronix | May 22, 2009 at 07:55 PM
JENNIFER LOPEZ MMMMMMMMM THAT's a WOMAN GOOD call CUBAN
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 08:03 PM
CUBAN THAT's FUNNY.
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 08:04 PM
the jennifer lopez was really good.
go fins, 1- we won 3 rings .
2-you the one w/ belly problem result of the need to drink like crazy to forget the nick,jj and cameron years.
3-i visit the pats blog all the time but no acorns there
Posted by: GoP | May 22, 2009 at 08:07 PM
afc east, i didn't say such thing but you sound like you lift weight a lot to be a strong man , do you live with, Aretha Franklin ?as you said the bigger the better
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 08:12 PM
THE AFC CHAMPS loves to eat dirty big azzzzz and hug it hard
Posted by: az | May 22, 2009 at 08:20 PM
AZ SORRY turned your girl down but she did tell me you like it in the AZ you know the blind spot.............................. Gopats I LIKE shapely women not fat. LIKE J-LO like BEONYCE, etc. YOU like girls that look like crack heads.
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 08:30 PM
PEACE FIN FANS TILL NEXT TIME
Posted by: THE AFC EAST CHAMPS | May 22, 2009 at 08:31 PM
I'm almost over and the cuban menace just wasted a beautiful me by posting more worthless crap and talking to himself. What a f'n loser.
Posted by: Friday | May 22, 2009 at 09:30 PM
i love friday nights b/c i can see and hear things no one else can.
meow meow
Posted by: meow friday | May 22, 2009 at 09:56 PM
Is anybody out there?
Posted by: Gopats | May 22, 2009 at 10:21 PM
meow meow armando.
Posted by: saturday | May 23, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Bond, David Bond needs to work on releasing the cap lock key. It is not hard and then he would not be so rude.
Posted by: Rick | May 23, 2009 at 05:25 AM
go pats i have a ? in your honest non biased opinion what do u think bradys numbers will be compared to penningtons? ronnie browns vs. whoever your leading rusher will be knowing it will be rushing by commitee. is brady primed for a marino type 94 comeback?
Posted by: sammo | May 23, 2009 at 05:52 AM